Recording and reproducing apparatus



Aug. 8, 1939 J. J. HARDENBERG RECORDING AND REPRGDUCING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l [mus /r42? W dd'lf/aa-denbeizg' 1 MM firroylvEy Aug. 8, 1939 J. J. HARDENBERG 2,169,143 RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZezzZaelzy (fall/S d Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNlTED STATES 2,169,143 nsconnmc AND narnonuomo APPARATUS Jan Jesayas Hardenberg, Eindhoven, Netherlands, assignor to N. fabrleken, Eindhoven,

Application January 12,

In G

ermany January 15, 1938 1 Claim.

My invention relates to film recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

I shall describe my invention in connection with the recording and optical reproduction of 5 sound-films, particularly narrow films driven by smooth-faced rollers, however, it is not limited thereto but is also applicable to the reproduction and recording of picture or sound-picture films.

In the present reproducing and recording ap- 1o paratus a relatively long time is required to bring the film from rest up to its normal speed, i. e., the speed at which reproduction or recording can be effected without distortion. For example, in present apparatus for mechanical recording or reproducingsound vibrations, the recording or reproducing needle can not be brought into its, operative position on the film until after the film has attained its normal speed, as otherwise the variationsin the starting speed oi the film'would cause distortions in the recording or reproduction, This results in a also causes undesired-delays intherecording or reproduction.

Such delaysare particularly disadvantageous when it is desired to reproduce only a selected portion of a sound film, as is frequently necessary in radio broadcastingstudios. with present apparatus, due to the relatively long time required to bring thefilm up to its normal speed, it is very difficult to reproduce a desired portion of afilm without distortion, 1. e., to start distortionless reproduction at exactly the beginning of the desired film portion.

Thus, in .apparatus of the above type it is of great importance that the film at the recording or reproducing point be brought from rest to its normal speed, or vice versa, as quickly as possible. The object of my invention is to overcome the above drawbacks, and to provide an apparatus in 0 which distortionless' recording or reproducing can be initiated or terminated simultaneously with the starting or stopping of the film at the recording or reproducing point.

In accordance with the invention, I drive the 45 film by friction Jrom a driving mechanism, and provide braking or stopping means to immediately stop or release the film at the desired instance, whereas the driving mechanism continues to move at'its normal speed. Thus upon release of E0 the braking means, the film issubstantially instantaneously. i. e., within 0.2 sec. brought up to its normal speed by the driving mechanism which was already in motion. In accordance with one embodiment of my in- 55 vention, I provide a take-up film reel and a suploss of film material and optical sound recording device applied thereto.

V. Philips Gloeilampen- Netherlands 1937, Serial No. 12!,31

ply film reel which are driven or braked by friction, and drive the film by one or more constantly-rotating smooth-faced rollers disposed at points between these reels. In such an apparatus I so construct the film-driving mechanism 5 that the film slides over the surface of the smoothfaced rollers when the braking means stops the film.

If only a single smooth-faced driving roller is used between the take-up reel and the supply 10 reel, which latter reel is preferably braked by friction, I dispose the stopping means at a point behind this smooth roller. In'referrlng to a point behind the roller is meant on the side of the roller at which the film leaves. If a plurality of 5 smooth-faced driving rollers are used, the stopping means should preferably be provided behind the roller nearest the take-up drum. Although such location of the stopping means is not absolutely necessary for carrying out my invention, it 20 has the advantage that it considerably reduces the friction between the film and the smoothfaced driving roller when the film is stationary.

As most apparatus of this type is provided with a thrust roller having a flexible surface pressing 26 the film against the smooth-faced driving roller, I prefer to disengage this thrust roller when the film is stopped by the braking means to thereby prevent the film being driven into a loop by the combination of these rollers.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect I shall describe same in more detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a simple sound-film 35 reproducing apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a sound-film reproducing apparatus according to another embodiment 40 of the invention.

. Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 oi Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of Fig. 3 with an Fig. 6 is a viewoi a portion of Fig. 3 with a mechanical sound recording device applied thereto. 1 7

Fig. '7 is a view of a portion of Fig. 3.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a supply reel 2, a take-up reel 8, and a sound-reproducing arrangement comprising a film guide 6., a light sourde 9, and-a photo-electric cell III. A mm? passes from reel 2 over a freely-rotatable guide roller 3, over the film guide means are well known in the I and a second freely-rotatable guide roller 1, onto the take-up reel I.

Disposed near reel device comprising a and lever H pivoted at '30 and carrying at one end a knob ii of friction material, such as rubber. A tension spring II serves to press the knob l2 against the film with a pressure sufilcient to immediately stop same.

Reel I is-driven in the direction of the arrow through a friction coupling. For this p rpose, as shown in Fig. 2, reel I is carried by a shaft II provided on its lower end with a disc II. Rotatably mounted on a fixed support 29 is provided with a coating II of friction material, for instance felt or fabric. Disc l1 is-eontinuous- 1y rotated at a constant speed, as shown by a motor II through a friction wheel 3| engaging the periphery of disc l'l.

Reel I is pressed against the coating II by means of a spring-biased lever I2 rotatable about a pivot 43 and acting upon .the upper surface of disc 25. Thus, when lever II is placed in the position shown in Fig. 1, the film will be immediatedriving mechanism will continue to rotate; reel I slipping upon the coating II. Upon release of lever II the film almost instantaneously attains its normal speed and distortionless reproduction is obtained.-

Reel 2 is mounted so as to be slightly braked. For this purpose as shown in Fig. 2, reel 2 rotates upon a coating 34 of friction material such as felt. provided on support 29.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is for the optical reproduction of sound which has been mechanically or optically recorded on a film. One

The apparatus shown in Figs. hand 4 is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception that the film smooth-faced driving roller 5 to keep the film at uniform In this construction, smooth-faced roller 5 and driven by a motor (not shown). As such driving art further. description or illustration of same is believed to be unnecessary. However it should be noted that roller 5 is directly and continuously driven whereas reel I is driven through a friction coupling in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 or in a manner later to be described. Disposed near the sound gate is a braking device similar to that shown in Fig. 1.-

As stated, roller 5 continues to rotate after film is stopped, and thus might damage same if the film were allowed to remain in contact with the surface thereof. Howeve as knob I2 is disposed so as to act upon the film at a point behind roller 5. i. e., at a point on the film leaving roller 5, film I becomes disengaged from roller 5, and thereby will not be damaged.

To prevent film I from being continuously driven at the point of contactbetween roller 5 and thrust roller I and thereby forming an enlarged loop behind roller 4 and the point of contact of knob i2, I prefer to loosen the coupling between the .rollers I and 5 when the braking device is closed. This may be eflected in a simple manner by mounting roller 4 upon an extension of a lever 45 whereby roller I will be moved out of engagement with roller 5 when lever 45 I is a. braking or stopping a disc H,

duce the optical records on so as not to engage roller 5.

passes around a thrust roller 4 and a.

speed before it reaches the film guide 5.-

is moved about the pivot 44 and the knob II will be placed in the position shown (see Fig. 7). However such construction is not essential to my invention, as in a simple apparatus such as shown in Figs, 1 and'2 the film is driven only by supply drum I, and roller 5 and thrust roller 4 are eliminated. In such cases the knob I2 of the braking device may be disposed at any desired point, for example at the take-up drum 8 as shown in Fig. 1,

The apparatus shown in Fig. 3' may also be used for optically recording, for example by providing a suitable, recording mechanism to prothe film as it passes overthe surface of roller 5. Such a recording mechanism is indicated by reference numeral 36 in Fig. 5.

The recording may also be effected mechanicbe removed from the periphery of roller 5, forinstance may be rotatably mounted on a lever so as to guide the film.

Such a construction is illustrated in Fig. 6 in which reference numeral 31 indicates a mechanical recording device. In this case roller 4 serves only as a guide roller, and is rotatably mounted A roller 39 rotatably mounted on a lever I0 pivoted at II and biased by a spring 42, presses roller 39 against roller 5 to thereby prevent slippage of film l upon the surface of roller 5.

In such a. construction in which the recording and reproducing are carried out on a single apparatus, the inventionaflords great advantages when the mechanical recording is effected in the manner described in the United States Patent No. 1,919,116 to James A. Miller. In such recording, a cutting tool having a V -shaped cutting edge with anapical angle of about 174 cuts an optically-reproducible vibration track in a carrier comprising a transparent film provided with opaque covering layer. Such 'a vibration track, whose width variations are a proportional enlargement of its depth variations, can be electrooptically reproduced immediately after the recording, in the same apparatus and without additional means. This is of particular advantage for testing purposes, even during the recording.

By using an apparatus embodying the invention, one may immediately reproduce any selected portion which, in the operator's opinion, have been incorrectly recorded, and furthermore this may be effected in such a manner that the beginning of the portions in question can be previously adjusted exactly in front of the scanning point. This advantage is brought out to a much higher degree when a selected portion of a film must be reproduced in a radio broadcasting station, as in such case it isabsolutely necessary that the audience does not perceive the starting of the film. However, with the apparatus according to the invention, this dimculty is practically eliminated in an extremely simple manner, as in such cases the required admissible :5 ing or reproducing process,

means 4. Referring to this fig film I forms a roll upon reel I, its end being clamped, .Ior instance in a slit provided in a small disc ll secured to reel I. Reel I .is fixedly mounted upon a shaft I! carrying on its lower end a disc 13, whereas a thrust bearing comprising ball bearings II and a housing 25 having a cover It, acts downwardly upon the upper surface of disc 23 with the aid of .a tension spring '11.

Rdtatably mounted upon a :flxed bearing II is a. hollow shaft 1| carryinga roller II .and a disc I I provided with a layer of friction material, .such as Jileltor .fabric engaging the lower surface of reel I. Shaft II and disc ill are driven at a substantially constant speed by means of a belt 1! driving roller ll. suitable means for this purpose are well known in the art. .further illustration or description of same is believed unnecessary.

Thus it'willlbe seen that'film i is stopped by knob i2, rotation of drum 8 is also prevented, whereby the friction coupling formed by drum 8 and disc I] and drum I slides overthe layer Ii. It will be noted that during the stationary periodsofthefilm disc l1 aswellasvmons other members of the transmission system including roller t continue to rotate at their normal speed. 'Iherefore upon releanng knob i2, film I will almost instantaneously acquire its normal speed, and the reproduction will not be afl'ected by distortions.

Reel I may be driven orwslightly braked through a weaklrdriven friction coupling similartothatahowninng.3. Duringtherecordreel 1 is preferably rotated oppositely to the direction of this coupling whereby rotation 01' reel 1 is slightly braked. With such a device the film may be played back in a simple manner, the film in being returned to reel 2 being preferably led over .a path diflerent :from its reproducing or recording path. for

instance over a guide roller 28 as indicated in Pi :3 by dotted lines. In this case, a'devioe is usually provided by which the drive of the drum 8 is reduced and the drive of drum 2 is increased. Such a device has been described in my above .mentioned United States application No. 103,460.

While 11 have described my invention in connection with specific examples and applications I do not wish to be limited thereto but desire the appended claim to be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I claim is:

A film-driving apparatus comprising a supply reel for the film, a take-up reel for the :film, means for driving said take-up reel including a friction coupling. a roller .!or driving said film and having a smooth suriace ana -B 8 thefilm, :means to continuously drive said roller, a thrust roller .tor pressing said film against said driving roller. means for stopping and releasing said film comprising a braking member adapted to engage the film at .a

point between said first roller and take-up reel,

andmeans connectingsaidrnemberand thrust roller to disengage said thrust roller Imm said driving roller when said member em the JAN JESAYAS 

